My treatments work to free the flow of Qi (energy) and Blood within the body's Meridians or Channel pathways. These Meridians connect the Exterior (skin, muscles) with the Interior (organs, bones) to communicate with the whole body. Acupuncture/pressure points are where the Meridian Qi flows nearer the surface of the body. When there is excessive energy in the Meridian, the flow will be outward for the universe to absorb. When instead the Meridian Qi is weak, there will be an inward flow of energy from the universe. Accessing the exact acu-point with the correct needle manipulations will facilitate this flow.

With any treatment, correct diagnosis is essential for proper treatment strategy. In Traditional Chinese Medicine we have several diagnostic techniques including tongue and pulse reading in addition to detailed inquiry into the symptoms and cause of disease. An acupuncturist then disseminates these findings into a pattern identification via 8-Principles (yin/yang, interior/exterior, excess/deficient, hot/cold); Zang-Fu (organ); Qi, Blood & Body Fluids; and more. Once a pattern is identified, it is treated through acupuncture/acupressure, herbs/diet, and/or qi gong exercises.

Treatment results are dependent on the severity and duration of disease. As your acupuncturist, I agree to seek your understanding and cooperation in the treatment strategy including modalities chosen and length of treatment. While there is no one answer to how many treatments or exact results, I will do my best to layout a specific plan of approach on which we both agree.

Chinese Medicine can help in the treatment of most common disorders as well as benefit more serious or complicated cases. It can also work in conjunction with other health care options as side-effects are few, and can actually help reduce side-effects from other treatments including chemotherapy for cancer. I always recommend that patients seek the least invasive procedures first, with the understanding that prevention is the best cure. Utilizing the accurate diagnostics of Western medicine's lab tests and imaging can help rule out something more severe. Even then, I recommend first treating with non-invasive diet and exercise therapies. If results are not achieved, Chinese herbs and acupuncture are the next least invasive. Unless an urgent situation, drugs and surgery should be the last resort.